nation's course is charted. democracy in real-time. this is your government at work. this is c-span, giving you your democracy unfiltered. >> and now to a news conference with homeland security secretary kristi noem, where she spoke with the ice officer who shot and killed a minneapolis woman and immigration operations in new york city. >> thank you for being here. we are here to talk about an operation going on for several months. after an incident happened here in new york city that brought us to a point where we recognize we had to work together in order to bring illegal criminal aliens to justice. nearly six months ago, two criminal illegal aliens attacked

an off-duty customs and border protection agent and his friend while they were sitting on a rock in a park after hours enjoying the evening together. these two criminals came and attempted to rob them, and it ended up where they bravely fought back. this officer defended himself and his friend, but not before being shot in the face and in the arm by one of these criminals. immediately after, the men and women of the homeland security investigations worked with nypd, leading to the arrest of the gunmen in just two hours. within 28 hours, the second assailant was arrested as well and those individuals have been brought to justice. but those individuals would never have been in this country if they hadn't been allowed in by the biden administration. the officer seeks to remain anonymous, but he had it a

singer's career and legacy of service and seeks to do so, but his life was forever altered by this heinous crime. his attackers never should have been in this country and they have been protected up until that point by sanctuary city policies. in fact, they had long criminal rap sheets and were released by the biden administration and continue to be released by leaders in the city to perpetuate crimes against the citizens that live year. during the investigation, we learned they were part of a gang in new york. we began to target every person affiliated with them and recognized they needed to be brought to justice. the american people deserve dignity, justice, and we deliver both, so we launched operations although here in new york city. operation salvo was a result of the resources of departments.

the new york county district attorney's office also participated in this operation. we have arrested 54 individuals as part of operation salvo since its inception a few months ago. those arrested are violent gang members and affiliates associated, who are responsible for weapons trafficking, for human smuggling, for narcotics distribution, and armed robberies. they had perpetuated previous violent attacks across the city of new york city. we have already removed not only many of these individuals that we have arrested, but over 60% of them have been returned back to their home countries to face justice for their crimes there as well. these arrests and removals represent a significant blow to the criminal network that has been terrorizing communities right here in new york city and throughout the united states,

and that is our message to this administration, to >> operation salvo is just the beginning of an effort to go after not only transnational networks but also illegal criminal aliens in the country. we are on offense. the trump administration is using every tool we have to protect the american people. say sciorra policies, whether in new york city, in california, illinois or minneapolis, if you are a criminal illegal alien we are coming to get you, we will arrest you, we will bring justice and safety to the american people. we are warning anyone if you think you can harm an individual, a citizen of the united states and law enforcement officer, we will find you and bring you to justice. if you lay a finger on one of

our officers, we will prosecute you and you will feel the full extent of the law. everything that trump administration does, we put the american people first. operation salvo has proven that i taking 54 dangerous criminals of our streets and protecting the people in this city. thanks to president trump we have 2.6 million people who have left our country who should not have been here in the first place. they were here illegally and over six sovereign -- 650,000 of them were arrested, detained and deported to their home countries. 2 million of them left voluntarily, recognizing this was their opportunity to come home and come back someday the right way. doing these operations requires brave citizens willing to serve their country and we are excited by the amount of people who want to join the department of homeland security in their efforts to protect the american people.

tomorrow is law enforcement day so i would like to encourage all of you that when you see an officer, anyone serving in federal, state or local who are pledging their lives and taking an oath to protect their communities and country and the people that live there, that you thank them. buy them lunch, give families support, and thank them for their service and dedication to freedom and liberty and enjoy the opportunity to sleep peacefully in our beds at night. i'm pleased i get to introduce other speakers who will come up and share about this operation. the first is frank russo. >> good morning morning and thank you for joining us. we can't thank you enough for being here today. your vanity and compassion was evident to us the moment our

officer got shot. you visiting him in the hospital and checking up on him every so often was a clear indication of your care for our officer. it inspired us to come up with this operation. i'm sure the success of this operation is a direct result of your care so thank you for that. i want to get something across to you all in a clear message. new york city is a safer city because we did not allow this vicious attack on our officer to go unanswered and unpunished. operation salvo delivered clear, real and measured results. the best thing about this operation is it was done the way law enforcement loves to do it -- quietly, discreetly come up behind the scenes view often under the cover of darkness.

that allowed our officers and agents to conduct severe lengths and do intel gathering operations and arrest individuals without interruptions or any impact to civilians. that's the way it is supposed to be done. six month ago our officer was enjoying a saturday night the park and when he was attack it was an attack on all of us. our mission is clear, protect the homeland, safeguard the borders and ensure economic prosperity. this mission was about protecting the citizens of new york and ridding ourselves of these horrible individuals. we came up with the name salvo

because it means a lot to us. a salvo first and foremost, our officer received salvation that night by the grace of god and the team who was out there picking up our officer and bringing him to the hospital. we think nypd for that. it also references a term of simultaneous discharge of guns in battle and that's what happened that night and he was so courageous getting shot in the wrist and face and still firing back. finally, we felt the need with our partners to unleash a salvo of justice. by using until driven

capabilities second to none, we went after individuals illegally here who have criminal records. it was an incredible operation done with partners realizing these individuals were affiliated with terrorists. then we did with cbp and our partners do best, get at the root cause of the problem, go after these transnational criminal organizations by getting at their networks. each day we pick off one or two. with our partners, we used mapping techniques, looking at individuals and picking them off one by one. it was an amazing success. we looked at businesses, residences and hubs that were

harboring these individuals. the results speak for themselves for the partnership and the work we did together. it was truly remarkable and a sign we will not sit on the sidelines, we will be there to protect the city. i want to thank first and foremost the secretary again, and commissioner, assistant commissioner, the office of field operations, our task force operators, our intelligence units, under our leadership, who did an incredible job of protecting this city and making sure a saturday night in the park is safe. thank you for being here. i will now turn it over to our director.

>> good morning, everyone. i am the field office director for ice enforcement removal operations in new york city. i want to thank secretary noem for traveling to the city and for continued and unwavering support for our officers. we are here because of the new york city real reform laws and sanctuary city policies. the tragic shooting of this heroic officer was entirely preventable and is a direct result of those policies. what makes this case

particularly egregious is both of these violent criminals had been in nypd custody on multiple occasions. however, due to century city policies and the politicians that prioritize politics over public safety, these criminal illegal aliens were repeatedly released onto new york city streets to harm this brave officer. we are proud to partner with cbp in this joint initiative to not only locate and arrest the criminal aliens responsible for the shooting but also identify, locate and apprehend. ruthless gang members who engage

in illicit activity and terrorize law-abiding new yorkers put together we have arrested over 50 criminal aliens, many with convictions, including weapons offenses, drug offenses, robbery, assault, rape, sexual abuse, burglary. approximately 30 of those have already been removed from the united states. while the remaining are in ero custody. communities with sanctuary policies suffer the most harm from criminal aliens. when local police released dangerous aliens into the community, they often reoffend in the same community they are released in and also stay in sanctuary city areas.

in this case, the shooter demonstrates he would travel to another jurisdiction in massachusetts where he had an outstanding criminal warrant for robbery. to further criminality without fear of consequences or repercussions they will travel to century city jurisdictions and hide in plain sight. they provide a safe haven for criminal aliens. the lack of cooperation is unprecedented across the law-enforcement spectrum. rather than the city's stated purpose to protect immigrants in new york and the citizens of new york city, these misguided policies allow criminals to roam freely in our city, in our country, subjecting new yorkers and all-americans to unnecessary

harm, which includes an off-duty cbp officer just trying to enjoy a saturday evening in our great city. ice will continue to uphold the mission to protect residents by holding alien offenders accountable. new yorkers should not have to worry about violent criminals roaming their neighborhoods because local systems failed them. we always stand ready to work with our local law enforcement partners without condition and sincerely look forward to reestablishing mutually beneficial paths forward for the safety of all new yorkers to ensure preventable tragedies like this never have to occur again. thank you. i will introduce you to the special agent in charge for new york.

>> thank you. it is an honor to say when our partners call, we answer without hesitation or delay. from the first moment following the shooting of our partner, we worked relentlessly day and night to track those responsible. personnel and coordination with local partners apprehended the accused gunman within two hours of the shooting. we swiftly identified his alleged accomplice home we arrested thereafter. together with law enforcement we

pursued every known associate of this violent gang crew. we poured over every piece of evidence, and made it clear that an attack on all of us -- on one of us is an attack on all of us. our investigation led to the capture of individuals tied to violent transnational gangs including associates of an gang responsible for weapons trafficking, human smuggling and narcotics distributional, armed robberies and attacks across the big apple. the arrest deliver a major blow for networks that have preyed on our neighborhoods for far too long. it's only possible because of the unyielding and unwavering collaboration between dhs partners and those from the southern district of new york, manhattan district attorney's office and law enforcement partners from all levels

investigative methods and interviews were conducted. we identified additional conspirators and expanded our reach. i'm proud to say the main targets and dozens of associates have been taken off of our streets. our work isn't finished. we will continue to leverage every resource, whether local, state or federal, to root out anyone connected to this conspiracy and violent gang. leadership and teamwork remained the backbone of our success. our missing -- mission is clear, protect public safety and security by investigating and arresting the most dangerous criminal elements. we use brought authorities to enforce federal laws, targeting transnational criminal organizations from every angle. we will not rest, we will not back down, we will continue to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks and in short our city and country remain safe. i know turn it back over to the

secretary. >> thank you for your hard work you do every day in new york city and the rest of our country. we will open it up to questions. >> [indiscernible] -- 70% of the arrests isa did in new york city had no convictions . >> if you look across the nationwide average we have 70% of individuals we arrested or detained have convictions against them either in this country or -- >> [indiscernible] >> we are continuing to do work to bring those criminal aliens to justice and we will wake up every day to protect new york city.

i don't know if you have the data points. we can get those for you. the vast majority of them have criminal charges against them or convictions against them as well. >> [indiscernible] -- what is their immigration status? >> loosely affiliated to the gang. through connections we made by speaking to them, understanding who they were, where they were operating and contacts they had on their phones. immigration status, all illegal. >> they knew someone in the gang? >> it varies. speaking to individuals associated with the gang to just having conversations. >> in october we saw mass protests and armored vehicles

rolling down canal street. how do we ensure we don't see another situation like yesterday? >> what i would encourage everyone to do and especially elected officials, is to bring everyone together to talk about partnerships and start working with i.c.e. and cbp as we bring criminals to justice. many times policies and rhetoric out of elected officials has divided people and pitted them against each other. our job every day and what president trump promised was to protect every american no matter where they lived, he was going to make sure we were not going to have more victims. we are going to continue to do that every day and i would encourage the leaders in this city and your governor and other cities and states across this country to work with us rather than opposing us so that we can continue to make streets safer. >> [indiscernible]

>> we are hoping the mayor will work with us to get these criminal elements and especially gang members and terrorist organizations out of new york city. i know he in the president had a productive conversation. our communication at the department of homeland security has not been productive with the mayor's office or nypd we want to continue this conversation so we can work together. >> director russo spoke about how this operation happened

discreetly under the cover of darkness, in contrast to -- >> what do you mean? >> it was very much not -- >> because of the protesters and violent criminals attacking law enforcement. our officers were trying to get a car stuck out of the snow when they were surrounded and assaulted and blocked by protesters. >> the officer was following his training -- >> he was -- >> is a drivers window training? >> he followed his training and we will let the investigation unfold and follow procedures and policies that happen in the use of force cases but let's remember the events that happened yesterday. these individuals have followed our officers all day, harassed them, locked them in, they were impeding law enforcement

operations, which is against the law, and when they commanded her to get out of her vehicle several times she did not. we will continue to allow this process to unfold and recognize these law-enforcement officers every day put their lives on the line. they do their jobs -- >> you were calling them drug -- domestic terrorists. >> this was domestic terrorism. >> but you don't know what she was about -- >> these policies continue to be put in place and this is standard operating procedure. this situation is no different. this young lady. >> should we expect a surge of agents in new york city? >> i would say president and his admission -- administration are focused on protecting people so

we will not telegraph our numbers and what we are focused on but i think when you see violent criminals taking advantage of american citizens, our law enforcement officers will always show up. i will come back. >> the shooting yesterday, has he been suspended? >> the officer went to the hospital, he was hit by the vehicle, he received treatment and was released and is spending time with his family. >> -- whether we can expect i.c.e. surge or civil? >> i want describe our operations, it puts officers lives in jeopardy but they will be there enforcing the laws of this country and upholding public safety needs that have to happen when it comes to enforcing federal law. we've got thousands of officers

there and i'm not opposed to send more if necessary. >> can you talk about the experience of the officer and some of his background? how much training did he have? >> i'm not going to get specific to this officer but he is an experience officer that has served a number of that he acted according to his training and we expect that all the policies and procedures of review will be exactly that he acted appropriately to protect his life and the life of his colleagues and fellow law enforcement officers that were there and people that were surrounding. >> mayor zohran mamdani responded to the shooting yesterday saying it's only the latest horror into your full of cruelty. also councilmembers last night called it fascism, the new york

city public advocate said your administration is doing the devils work and asked new york city to stand up and show up, quote, it's going to be difficult and there are going to be casualties. the last comment made last night at the protest was some the new york state represent, also a democrat, secretary noem's hand was on the gun, president trump's hand was on the gun. what is your response to your credit leaders to those protesters that are outside? >> that kind of language and provocative talk, inciting people to take action perpetuate violence in some cases is unacceptable, especially of elected leaders. we have a responsibility to state the facts, to go out and enforce the law. the mayor just said in a state when he was going to stand with illegal people who have broken our lobby going to put new york city citizens first.

his job and my he was selected was to protect the people who live here that had the opportunity to vote for him and have the opportunity to live in this city, they pay their taxes, they go to work everyday instead the mayor in the statement chose to stand with illegals instead of those individuals who just want the chance to raise the families in new york city and have a part of the american dream. >> [indiscernible] >> i like snow where they have been and why they are not out on the streets investigating all these people that are harassing and inciting violence on law enforcement officers right now. they are allowing the situation to be volatile. they are not doing their work. maybe they should get to work a little bit on the unprecedented fraud that we have seen in minnesota and in minneapolis by people that stole from american citizens and diverted funds away from vulnerable people and programs and services that they needed and put it into their own

pockets. minnesota is a train wreck. it's corrupt and it was under the leadership of governor walz in this mayor that that letter to happen and then at criminals and illegals and people abuse programs and steal the money and now they are allowing silence to go forward on the streets as well. -- allowing violence to go forward on the streets as well. i won't put a blanket statement out like those individuals will. i welcome them to come and help us make sure the streets are safe, the laws are enforced and that we can do the right thing to make sure american citizens come first. yes, sir. they have not been cut out. they don't have any jurisdiction in this investigation. yes, go ahead. i'm going to speak to this individual right here. [indiscernible] how do you -- >> how to respond to americans who have been listening to your comments at this was an act of domestic terrorism, that is in direct contradiction to what they have

seen and watching from multiple angles that have been released? >> this vehicle was used to hit this officer. it was used as a weapon and the officer feels as though his life is in jeopardy. it was used to perpetuate a violent at that this officer took action to protect himself and to protect his fellow on enforcement officers. so we will let this continue to go forward and follow the same policies and procedures that every use situation does. we've had over 100 times that these vehicles have been used to ram all enforcement officers and to do damage and to harm them. when you take an action and use that weapon to harm someone and to incite violence against them and try to cause them injury or death, that he needs to be labeled exactly what it was. i would say that when these

individuals use their vehicles to try to ram our law enforcement and put their lives in jeopardy that law enforcement officer has to make a decision to protect his life and individuals -- individuals around him as well. >> what did you make of -- >> i didn't see those comments but from what i understand he also put out a statement they are as well, so i will let tom speak to that but all of us are on the same page and the fact that this law enforcement officer followed his training and that he defended and acted in defense of his life and those around him. >> first, he said these protesters had been following the ice agents. do have a timeline and can you share some of those initial encounters prior to the fatal shooting, and secondly,

[indiscernible] >> there will be more details coming out as is goes forward in the coming days. i'll talk more about that closure in the future. >> did you say many times a day they had been? >> it had been ongoing throughout the day. >> whatever happened in minneapolis, mother of three instead, an american citizen. do you have a message for her family today? >> yes, absolutely and i reiterated this yesterday when i had my press conference, i ask everybody not to pray just for the officer but for the deceased family and her loved ones as well. it was a tragic situation that i hope we never see happen again. that's why i'm encouraging all elected leaders to work together so that we can be cooperative and getting dangerous criminals off of our streets. >> you go in with a lot of publicity -- about these

operations. do you feel like that needs to be revisited so that maybe you go in a little more covertly or do you need to change the approach at all? >> i would say we have a all different kinds of law enforcement operation going on within the department at all times. we don't telegraph the details or specifics or where we are going to be operating. there are different tactics for what is appropriate for the criminal activity we see in the city. last question. >> the detail of the ice harassment earlier in the day, were any of those details shared with you? >> that will be a part of some of the details that we will be sharing in the future. thank you all for being here and i appreciate you focusing on this operation and the 54 criminals that we have gotten off the streets because of the work of this team behind me. we thank all of them for their service and recognize that, again i will remind you tomorrow is law enforcement day.

please take the time to thank a law enforcement officer who is out there keeping us in our families safe. have a wonderful day. >> on friday, the calvin coolidge presidential foundation will host a daylong conference on the american economy in the 20 its entry. the first panel features republican representatives genia fox and french hill. our coverage of the conference will continue at 9:45 a.m. eastern on c-span3 and will include remarks from businessman steve forbes later in the afternoon. you can also watch it on c-span now and c-span.org. >> watch america's book club, c-span's bold, original series. sunday with her guest hall of fame baseball player and best-selling other cal ripken junior who has authored and co-authored more than a dozen books including the only way i know, get in the game, and a

series of children's books. he joins our host, best-selling author and owner of the baltimore orioles, david rubenstein. >> i thought writing kids books were a good way to broach certain subjects that might've been tough when your kids or whatever else in the backdrop of a travel baseball team. we all worry about things as kids and it was a way to communicate a good message through books. i just enjoy the process. >> watch america's book club with cal ripken junior, sunday at 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. eastern and pacific, only on c-span. >> c-span, democracy, and filter. we are funded by these television companies and more, including comcast. >> the replacement program got

started by a good friend of mine who saw flag at the office that needed to be replaced. he said wouldn't it be great if this would be something we did for anyone? comcast has always been a community driven company. this is one of the great examples of how we are getting out there. announcer: comcast supports c-span as a public service, along with these other television providers, giving you a front row seat to democracy. >> representatives any holier announced that he would not seek reelection in november and remarks from the house floor when he speaks about his more than four decades in congress . >> mr. scalise, where is my one minute when i need it? mr. speaker, my dear and close friend, steve wom